Speed-control device for vehicles.



W. S MENDEN.

SPEED CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1913,

Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

. 5 W00 Mic p 4, a. Why 35 Q Vitwaooao W. S MENDEN SPEED CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPIICATION FILED JULY 3. 1913.

1,1 37,882. Patented May 4, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2' 1 9 1' M1 0,00% c H 0c M fez -wrnmarr s. mama, or aooKLYN, NEW

amon- YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MEG-OSINCOMPANY,

INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

seam-common Device roe 'v'EHIoLEs' menses.

\ Application filed July 3, 191a. Serial Ho. 777,238.

To aZZ whom it may concern i Be it known that 1, WIL IAM S; MENDEN, a citizen of the United Stat s, esiding in the borough of Brooklyn, county of,Kings, and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed- Control Devices for Vehicles, of which the" following is a full and clear specification.

This invention relates to speed control devices for vehicles of various descriptions and is especiall applicable to public conveyances such as rapid transit cars which are operated at relatively high speed through some portionsof their route but which along other portions of their route may be restricted to slow speeds.

In the modern development of rapid transit systems, it has become of the ut-. most importance that the speed of cars be limited in order to avoid accidents of various descriptions.

The primary object-of the present invention is to provide improved mechanism for rendering it impossible for the car operator to run above a definite limit and contemfplatcs suitable provision for varying this limit to meet the varying requirements of difierent zones of travel over which the vehicle passes.

The specific features of my invention will appear in the specification and be pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is exemplified in an adapta- 7 tion to a rapid transit car.

In the drawings, Figure 1. is a wiring diagram of an electrically operated embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar diagram of a modifioation; Fig. 3 is a diagram of another modification; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a circuit closing plunger and trip mechanism therefor; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring first toFig. 1 of the drawings, the general outline of one embodiment of my invention will be understood. The axle 1 carried by wheels 2 (only one of said wheels being shown in dotted lines), constitutes a member which rotates continuously while the car is in motion. Adjacent to the axle 1 is mounted an auxiliary source of power such as a dynamo, comprising the armature'3 and a fieldwinding 4: cdnnected in series therewith by a line 5. In order to pro- Vide suitable means for periodically driving Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented May 4, 1915.

- the armature 3, a roller 6 is journaled at 7 in a swinging bracket 8', whichc,arries at its ergized at predetermined times and inter- Vals by means of a line wire 10 which branches from the main circuit at any wire 1() magnet 9, wire 11, contacts 12' and 13 and ground line 14. The pivot-15 of the bracket 8 is coaxial with the armature the auxiliarydynammso that. the contact roller 6 is adapted to be swung into and out hi axle 1 when the of rolling contact with t magnet 9 is energized. The main branch of the circuit energized by the generator 3 is a line wire lli wh-ich leads to a solenoid 17 surroundim a reciprocable core 18, as shown to the left in Fig. 1. Projecting upwardly from the core 18 is a rod 19 which carries a cross bar or contact. 20 at its upper end.

outer endan electromagnet 9 which is ensuitable point,- (not. indicated on the-draw ings). A line 11 connectsthe magnet 9 with The cont-act 20 is adapted to bridge the spaced contacts-21 and thereby to close a gap in the maincontrol circuitbf which the lead wires 22 constitutea part. Depending from the core 18 is another. rod 23 which carries at its lower end a valve 24 which is adapted under certain conditions, to be hereinafter pointed out, to open and'close the chamber 25 which is in open communication with a pipe 26, forming part of the automatic air brake mechanism. Solenoid l'lis connected by a lin ifnvire 27 with a graded resistancev element 28. In order of different degrees of resistance being thrown into the solenoid operating circuit, a plurality of branches 29, 30; and 31 are connected at suitable points in the resistance 28. Said branches terminate in fined contacts 32, 33 and 34, which may bcclhsed seccessively by the contact bar 13, when it is elevated in the manner to bepresently explained. A plunger 35 which carries the contact bar 13 control has in the preferred embodiment of my invention, a roller 36' journaled in the lower end thereof, which to permit a 'cuit through any one roller is adapted to coiiperate with cam tracks 37, which ma be located at any dcsired points along the route of the car or vehicle. Said cam tracks 37 may be of any suitable height corresponding to the required elevation to be'imparted to the plunger 35 in closing the solenoid operating cirof the resistance branches 29, and 31. A stop or post 38 may be employed in the preferred embodiment of my invention for releasing the plungel" at the end of any zone or period of travel forwhich a given limit to the speed of the car has'been decided upon. The preferred construction of the plunger together with the circuit closing device and operating mechanism connected therewith will be understoodfrom an inspectionof Figs. 4c and 5. Thus the plunger 35 is reciprocably mounted inthe' spaced arms of a yoke 39, which may forma rigid projection from an inclined member 10 (see Fig. l) of the frame work of a car. .Rigidly mounted on the plunger 35 is a collar 41 which serves to limit the downward movement of the plunger 35 under the action of acompression spring 42 which is mounted around the plunger 35 and intermediately of the collar 41 and the upper arm of the yoke 39. 3O

' ger. 45.

placement after the plunger has for releasably 35 in any one of the Simple and etficient means holding the plunger positions to which it is elevated, may be provided by the following construction. On a pin 43 which is rigid with the yoke 39, is journaled thev hub H of a pendulum or trig- The upper arm separately adapted to engage a toe 1? of a dog 18, said dog being pivoted at 49 on a bracket arm 50 which projects laterally from the upper end of the plunger 35. A lateral projection 51 on the upper end of the dog 4-.8 is-ada'pted to abut against the upper end of the plunger-35 and to retain the dog against a clockwise disbeen raised. Any suitable means such as the compression spring 52 may be employed to yieldingly retain the dog 48 in the position shown in Fig. 5. Thus as the plunger 35 is raised the toe 47 will drag over the lugsati until the required elevation is attained. As shown in Fig. 1, the lugs #16 on the upper end of the trigger 4.5, are arcuately curved with respect to the pin 43 as a center. A torsion -member'such as the spring 53 has one end connected to the trigger 15 and the other end to the yoke 39, and is suitably tensioned to normally retain the trigger 45 in vertical posit-ion. \Vhen, however, the progress of the car br ngs the trigger 45 into engagementwith the post or stop 38,-said trigger is displaced as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4,.and the plunger 35 is permitted to drop into cirof said. trigger carries a plurality of laterally pro ecting lugs 46, which are Fig.

" one of the fixed solenoid 17 will be low,

the toe 17 being released,

cuit breaking position. A tension spring o-l serves to return the core 13 to normal position, shown in Fig. 1,- when the circuit The armature 3 of the dynamo 2 of the drawings, the

hicle which embodies simply a braking mechanism and for this purpose can be operative independent of the main driving circuit of a vehicle such as a trolley car.

Thus. as shown in Fig. 2. the leads 22, contacts 21 and contact bar-20 with its supporting rod 19 can be omitted. In this embodi- I ment, it will be sufiicientfto have a yielding support such as the sprmg:55 which maybe secured at its lower end to the plunger or core 18' and at its upper end to a fixed support 56.

In Fig. 3 1s shown an embod ment of the invent-ion in, which the main circuit is controlled. Thus, the leads 22 with their contacts 21 are embodied along with the bridging contact 20 on the upper end of the rod 19 which is carried by the core 18 of the solenoid 1'7.

I n most'rapid transit systems whether for ti 9 transportation of freight, passengers or -whatever purpose, there are zones of travel or localities in which the speed of a vehicle should be restricted to a definite maximum limit. Thus on busy throroughfares, at junctions both underground and surface, in transition connections between surface and elevated lines or underground with surface or elevated or other places in which long steep grades may be required, some positive means should be employed to prevent the speed limit being exceeded. Referring tov 1-, at the beginning of each limited zone of travel, suitable plunger-actuating means such as the cam bar 37, is disposed adjacent the path of the vehicle. \Vhen the plunger rises, according to Fig. 1, as soon as the contact '13 bridges the gap betweencontacts 32, 33 or at and the plate 12, current from the feed'wire 10, energizes the magnet 9, through a circuit ineluding wire 11, contacts 12, 13, plunger 35,

and wire. 14: to ground G. Immediately the magnet 9 is thrown toward the axle 1 until I contact wheel 6 engages axle 1 upon which the generator 3 is caused to generate an electro-motive force which varies with the speed of the axle 1. It will be seen that according to which of the branches 29, 30 "or 31 is connected up in circuit with the solenoid .17, the voltagernecessary to operate medium or high. In consequence, if the current passes over the lowermostbranch .31 and the entire resistance 28, the core-'18 will notice shifted until the speed of the vehicle becomes high enough to produce the required voltage for imparting therequired energization to the upon the particular embodiment.

source of power which varies with solenoid 17 through the resistance 28. When, therefore, the speed of the car reaches the speed limit, the main operating circuit is b 'olren, or the brakes thrown in action, or b th of these results occur, depending Under these conditions, the current from the dynamo 3, traverses wire 16, solenoid 17, wire 27, resistance 28 branch 31 ground G, G, and dynamo 3. It will be seen therefore that whenever thespeed limit is exceeded, the vehicle automatically comes under the control of mechanism over which the operator of the vehicle has no control. 7

What I claim is:

.1. In a vehicle, the combination with a speed controlling instrumentality, or" a the speed of said vehicle, a circuit including said power source and instrumentality, said instrumentality being adapted under a fixed amount of resistance in said circuit to become operative under a predetermined speed of the vehicle, and means for predetermining the resistance in said circuit to vary the speed limits at which said instrumentality becomes operative.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a speed controlling insi' rumentality, .of a source of power which varies with the speed of said vehicle, a circuit including said power source and instrumentality, said instrumentality being adapted under a fixed amount of resistance in said circuit to become operative under a predetermined speed of the vehicle, and means for varying the resistance in said circuit to vary the speed limits at which said instrumentality becomes operative, said means including graded resistance, and a plunger suitably mounted on said vehicle to be displaced by means disposed along the route of said vehicle.

3; In a vehicle, the combination with a speed controlling instrumentality, of a source of power which varies with the speed of said vehicle, a circuit including said power source and instrumentality, said instrumentality being adapted under a fixed amount of resistance in said circuit to bespeed controlling instrumentality, of a sole- AZA JZA "AL 1-.

(or 30 or 29),

instrument-silty becomes operative.

5. In a vehicle, the combination with a speed controlling instrumentality, an energizing circuit therefor, means for varying the resistance in sa'd circuit to regulate the current flowing, rough said circuit, and automatic means acting at a fixed pointof travel of said vehicle, for positioning said resistance varying means to predetermine the speed limit of said vehicle.

6. The combination with a vehicle, of means for controlling the speed of said vehicle, said controlling means being adapted to limit the speed of the vehicle to any one of ,a plirality of speeds, anelement capable of various degrees of displacement, operatably connected to said controlling means,

and means for automatically lockin said element in displaced position, said locking means being released automatically at the end or" a zone of travel in which the speed is to be limited.

7. In a vehicle, the combination with a speed controlling instrumentality, an operating solenoid adapted to be operated by currents of different strengths depending upon the amount of resistance in circuit therewith, a. plurality of resistances, adapted to be thrown'into circuit w; said solenoid, an energizing circuit for said solenoid in cluding' one or more of said resistances and meansadapted to be operated at predetermined points in the travel of said vehicle, fordetermining the amount of resistance in the energizing circuit.

8.111 a vehicle, the combination w th a speed controlling instrumentality, an operating solenoid therefor adapted to'be operated by currents of difierent strengths depending upon the amount of resistance in circuit therewith, a resistance adapted to be thrown into circuit with said solenoid in greater or less amount, an energizing circuit for said solenoid including more or less of said resistance, and means adapted to be operated at predetermined points for determining the amount of resistance in the energizing circuit, said means including a series of contacts respectively, connected to differout parts of the resistance and a member through which the energizing circuit is completed will-"2 member is adapted to be displaced cater or less degree by coiiperating me:: "are disposed along'the route 01 said vehicle. p

9. In a vehicle, he combination witha speed controlling instrumentality, of a sole of contacts by means of which difi'erent amounts of said resistance can be included in a circuit for energizing said solenoid, an

' place said energizing circuit including a movable contact adapted tosuccessively engage the. first mentioned contacts, a displaceable member carried by said vehicle and adapted to dismovable contact and means disposed along the route of said vehicle for imparting different amounts of. displacement 'to said .member to determine the amount of resistance in circuit with said solenoid, the speed limit at which said in- ,sensitiveness of said speed controlling device. 11. In a vehicle, the combination with a speed controlling instrumentality, of a. solenoid for actuating the same, a resistance electrically connected to said solenoid, a pluv rality of branch wires leadingfrom different points of said resistance, being provided with contacts, a plunger adapted to successively contact with said contacts, and means disposed along the route of said vehicle for displacing said plunger to selectively engage one of said contacts, said solenoid and plunger'being connected up in an energizing circuit which is thus completed. I

12. The combination of a vehicle, a speed control instrumentality, a magnetic coil for controlling the same, a source of power which varies with the speed of said vehicle, resistance means provided with a plurality of branches for varying the amount of resistance in circuit, a plunger reciprocably mounted to adapt it to close a circuit through any one of said branches, a circuit including said source, coil, resistance and plunger, and

means for releasably holding said plunger in any position-to which it may be displaced.

member a predetermined, amount to automatically predetermine the said branch Wires placed, said' iholding means comprising a '6;

trigger having spaced lugs projecting therefrom and a dogcarried by said plunger.

14.. The combination with a vehicle, of a generator adapted tohave running contact with anism of said vehicle, a speed controlling element, a solenoid for operating the same, a I

circuit for connecting said element with said solenoid, and means for varying the resist-y ance of said circuit to raiseqandlower the fl speed limit at which said solenoid'becomejsl operative upon said speed-controlling ele-.*

-ment,- said means including a series of -resistancesarranged in arallel, a plungeroperatively mounted with respect to said fi resistances, and means for. operating said plunger. i

15. The combination with a vehicle, of a generator adapted to have running contact with a moving part of the propelling mechj i anism of said vehicle, a speed-controlling element, a solenoid for operating the same, a

circuit for connecting said element with said solenoid, and means for varying theresistance of said ,circuit to raise and lower, 1 the speed limit at which said solenoid be--- comes operative upon said speed-controlling element, said means including a series of resistances arranged in parallel, a plunger operatively mounted with respect to, said resistances and means for operating said plunger, said plunger-operating means being adapted to operate 'said plunger to different extents to correspond to the speed limit requirements of different zones of travel.

' WILLIALT S. MENDEN.

Witnesses:

WM. A. COURTLAND,

J. S. MARTIN.

a moving part of the propelling inech- *1- 

